Shadowfang Keep 18-21?

#0 - Oct. 8, 2007, 10:02 p.m.
Blizzard Post
I understand what you're wanting to accomplish by shortening the level ranges of the mobs in an instance, and SFK is a good example of where it needs to be done. But I don't think you looked at how people generally level when you considered this.

At 18-21, Alliance is running Deadmines. Horde is running Wailing Caverns. Now, Wailing Caverns has a pretty widespread level range too, but because of it's location in the Barrens (most common Horde leveling), it's easy to find groups for and finish, and if anything, this is the instance that should be tuned for 18-21 which basically just means lowering the levels of Verdan the Everliving and Mutanus the Devourer, as these are only two things that give even PuG WC groups any kind of a hard time.

Shadowfang Keep however, (and I admit part of this is because of the end level range) is not done by Horde until 21-24, and I doubt you're going to have a stream of Alliance wanting to run all the way from Menethil Harbor, through the Arathi Highlands, into Hillsbrad Foothills, and then into Silverpine Forest before 21, not when they can level in Westfall and get a group for Deadmines. Also, because Silverpine Forest is poorly laid out as a 12-20 questing zone with 24 elite Sons of Arugal wandering around it, it's not a very popular spot to level, especially since the introduction of Ghostlands.

Therefore, I suggest to you, instead of going with the low end of the current SFK, tune it for 21-24 instead. Players who run SFK at this level range, will find themselves geared and leveled enough that they won't be running into The Stockades and Blackfathom Deep unprepared.
#1 - Oct. 8, 2007, 10:20 p.m.
Blizzard Post
If Shadowfang Keep was the only instance that was having the level range adjusted, I could understand this, but with pretty much all of the leveling dungeons in Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor having this happen, it works out.

With the changes in patch 2.3, players won’t have to put off Razorfen Kraul, Blackfathom Deep, The Stockade, or Gnomeregan for later levels as they will be able to go through them throughout their 20s and roll into their 30's where Scarlet Monastery, Razorfen Downs, and Uldaman await to take people into the 40's and so on.

Don't forget all the hard work from the Steamwheedle Cartel in Dustwallow Marsh which will give a big boost for the level 30 range too!

Link to details on leveling improvements coming in patch 2.3: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=2215496403&sid=1
#15 - Oct. 8, 2007, 10:32 p.m.
Blizzard Post
Q u o t e:
Woah woah woah, hold on there buck-o. Do you guys not remember BRD? Starting out at lvl 52 and going to 60?


I said "and so on" because others are being changed. Blackrock Depths is getting improved as well. I recommend checking it out the PTRs when they are available for patch 2.3.
#23 - Oct. 8, 2007, 10:44 p.m.
Blizzard Post
Q u o t e:
While the 30s needed help horde side, leveling alliance through the 40s is hell. What is being done about this?


The update on Dustwallow is the main zone being changed but it affects both the Alliance and the Horde. All these extra quests should make it easier to not have to do high level 30/low level 40 quests too soon, so instead you can stack these up and use them to catapult you into your 30s.
#28 - Oct. 8, 2007, 11:09 p.m.
Blizzard Post
Q u o t e:
To me, starting on lvl 40 zones/quests at 41/42 means running ZF three times instead of eight to get to level 50 (including doing every quest I can find). Getting into the 40s faster doesn't help leaving the 40s much. Also two of my alts are in their higher 40s and will not be helped by Dustwallow, will I just have to tough it out like before or will they be reasonably helped by this patch?


Dustwallow should allow you to save up some quests and get you through this area, this way you can be a little higher level before starting the level 40 specific quests, so it will help a bit. But it’s also possible you are missing some areas, with the Badlands, STV, Tanaris, Searing Gorge, Swamp of Sorrows, Feralas and The Hinterlands I’ve never had an issue getting through the 40s on any of my characters.